Ukraine and US Make ‘Real Progress’ as European Leaders Meet
Friedrich Merz, right, Steve Witkoff, second left, and Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Berlin, in this photo released by the German Government Press Office, on Dec. 14.
Photographer: Guido Bergmann/German Government Press Office/Getty Images
Ukrainian and US negotiators gave an upbeat assessment of talks in Berlin on ending Russia’s war, with a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voicing optimism that the sides could close in on an agreement by the end of the day.
Zelenskiy’s top security official, Rustem Umerov, cited “real progress” in the German capital after the Ukrainian leader and his team held a second day of discussions lasting about five hours with US officials led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.